Middle Ireland will repeal the Eighth

So called “Middle Ireland” as described by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar this week, refers specifically, in my opinion, to rural Ireland.

Allow me to assure you, this Middle Ireland “is dead and gone”, it passed away on May 23, 2015, when Ireland said Yes to Equality.

If our honourable TDs met their constituents face to face, they would be aware of this fact.

My Middle Ireland is much more progressive, accepting and understanding than the government wants to believe. It is home to countless families who have watched their children leave for far flung places, only to return for holidays, with open minds and altered world views. My Middle Ireland is culturally Catholic, making the sign of peace with people wearing Repeal jumpers at Midnight Mass.

My Middle Ireland is reaching out to the mammy and toddler groups, listening to their often heartbreaking pregnancy and birth stories, and using this to spur on the fight not only for our rights as people of reproductive potential, but for those who cannot fight for themselves.

We are Middle Ireland, and we will Repeal the 8th Amendment in order to insure that everyone can receive progressive reproductive care in their Ireland.

Richael Carroll, Kiltimagh, Co. Mayo,